Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Courtesy Deepwater Wind “2016 was the best year yet!” said just about no one—except, perhaps, U.S. offshore wind developers. In December, the burgeoning industry saw its first turbines start spinning off the coast of Rhode Island. It’s been a long time coming. Europe installed its first offshore wind […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund In a stunning development for clean energy in New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that New York plans to build enough offshore wind capacity by 2030 to power 1.25 million New York homes, starting with a 90-megawatt project 30 miles off Montauk on Long Island’s South […]
Published by The New York Times Science & Environment The administration added the rusty-patched bumblebee, which once covered 28 states but is threatened by pesticides, disease and climate change, to the endangered species list. Read the full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/science/endangered-bee.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Published by Ocean Conservancy In recent months, two young sperm whales stranded themselves along the coast of Louisiana. These events highlight the importance for quality health and diagnostic information for the marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. What could kill one of the greatest predators to ever exist on earth? These animals are harmed by […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Paula Olson/NOAA The vaquita—pronounced va-KEE-ta—is a small, adorable porpoise native to the Gulf of California. It’s also the world’s most endangered cetacean, with fewer than 60 left in existence. Last week, in what can only be described as a conservation Hail Mary, scientists announced they want to round up […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Oystermen in San Francisco Bay haul in their catch in the late 1800s. University of Washington From the shores of Manhattan to the craggy coastline of Puget Sound, the country’s seaboards were once flush with oysters. Unfortunately, overharvesting and habitat destruction over the past century have taken a […]
More than 10 years ago, bisphenol A (BPA) was a hot topic in Japan. But these days, not so much. The Japanese government ministries with responsibility for human health continue to monitor scientific developments on BPA in the rest of the world, but without any apparent pressure or need for regulatory action. Likewise, there’s little […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund The US government released a plan that could save the Arctic’s most iconic creature: the polar bear. The Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan, which focuses on actions for the two US subpopulations in Alaska and was introduced by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), stresses the importance of climate […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s 2017, and a suite of new standards and practices are now in place for vessels operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters. The new set of rules—called the Polar Code—is designed to increase ship safety and environmental protection in high-latitude waters. Adopted by a specialized agency of the United Nations called the […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund The Central Tian Shan mountain range presides over Kyrgyzstan with regal authority. Snow leopards, argali, ibex, and other rare animals meander across the alpine grasslands, glaciers, and snow-covered slopes, taking particular refuge in the vast Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve. There, these animals find protection from unlikely guardians: the residents of nearby […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund “A’o ‘Ana (The Warning)” Hula The image of a solitary polar bear stranded on a melting ice floe is the unofficial poster child of the climate movement. But the world’s climbing temperatures are threatening more than charismatic megafauna; people’s lives and cultural heritage are at risk, too. With […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy When it comes to iconic ocean animals, seabirds are often overlooked. But seabirds, or birds that make their living primarily from the ocean, are a crucial part of marine ecosystems. From the tiny least storm petrel to the massive wandering albatross, seabirds consume an estimated 7% of ocean productivity and are an […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund For the first time, researchers have created models to predict when, where, and to what extent coral bleaching will occur in reefs around the world at a finer scale than ever before. Because many countries depend on their reefs for food, tourism, and costal protection, knowing when and where bleaching […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Imprint left on a window after a bird collision Chuck Schug Photography/iStock Christine Sheppard took any workaholic’s logical next step before retirement: She started a new job. Sheppard, who has a PhD in evolutionary biology and ecology, retired early from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo in New […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Apparently, there has been some recent confusion about the difference between dolphins and sharks. Here at Ocean Conservancy, we were eager to dive in and help clear up the misunderstanding! The debate launched unexpectedly into the public eye when a contestant on this week’s episode of The Bachelor wore a “dolphin costume” […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund iStock You know the scene: You’re at the office. It’s lunchtime. You enjoy the last bite of your takeout soup-and-sandwich combo and look down to find…your very own paper and plastic trash heap. That’s a messy affair in the moment, but here’s the upside: According to the U.S. […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund Your browser doesn’t support Javascript or has it disabled. onEarth works best with Javascript enabled. New rules on antibiotic use in livestock just went into effect – But a major loophole remains. The FDA has made it illegal to give medically important antibiotics to healthy animals in order […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund My parents and ancestors are from Cuba. After the country was taken over by an oppressive political regime, my parents, no longer free or safe in their own country, made the difficult decision to leave. They came to America with nothing, seeking political and religious freedom, and a […]
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund FDA announced with fanfare today that it has made progress on addressing the misuse of antibiotics by making changes to instructions on labels for medicine used in livestock. Unfortunately, the announcement is a false promise of dawn. FDA continues to allow the mass administration of antibiotics at low […]
Published by the Department of the Interior As fire seasons continue to burn hotter, drier and longer, Secretary Jewell will also highlight the need for greater collaborative action to enhance community resilience against these risks and strengthen federal firefighter safety and preparedness. Secretary Jewell has called on Congress to fix how the federal government budgets for […]